September 5, 2012

5:34 Central Time: I jump in, watching C-SPAN, just in time to see the ever-bold, ever-confident Chuck Schumer stride onto the stage. He says: "Tonight, we welcome a New Yorker: President Bill Clinton as our prime time speaker." He does a little fist pump on "speaker." "It's no accident that Democrats celebrate" — a bigger fist pump — "our past Presidents, while Republicans virtually banish theirs" — biggest fist pump and a big smile.

6:40: Emanuel Cleaver gets the conventioneers fired up, but the hoarse-throated yelling doesn't play so well over the television, just like the Howard Dean scream seemed nutty outside of the room where the scream was screamed.

6:48: "Mitt Romney doesn't know a thing about hard work or responsibility," says the president of the AFL-CIO, Richard Trumka, who likes to portray work as "mopping, vacuuming, and picking up our trash."

7:01: President Obama has focused on jobs since Day 1, says Nancy Pelosi. So... do we get to judge him by the result, or does he get reelection for effort?

7:07: Lots of Dems tonight are talking about "the American Dream," as, of course, the GOP did last week. It's kind of nice to see so much consensus about the idea of individuals working hard — for themselves and their families — and succeeding economically, and interesting that everyone's enthusiastic about calling that "American," as though they're into patriotism, even though I imagine it's the dream among all human beings to be able to achieve economic well-being for themselves and their families through their own work. The real question, rather obviously, is which party will do better for these American dreamers of the American dream. What is the Democrats' argument here? I really don't see it. They seem to be copying the Republicans' theme, criticizing the Republicans for saying it, and insisting they have some dream-boosting methodology.

7:15: Another parade of women. Last night's was the women of the House. Now, it's the women of the Senate. This segment was preceded by a treacly video with a song about "a woman's voice," which apparently, "can sing any song." Okay. Sing "A Boy Named Sue." Gotcha! Didn't I?

7:25: American Idol runner-up Jessica Sanchez sings "You're all I need to get by...." And then a video of Barack Obama comes on.

7:28: A young woman promotes Planned Parenthood, where she found a nurse who was able to diagnose her endometriosis, after a whole lot of doctors had no idea what was wrong with her and even accused her of being some sort of drama queen. What the hell kind of crap doctors was she going to? Come on. Endometriosis is a standard ailment. Are we to think misogyny prevents its detection? (I can't be fact checking, but, seriously, who were these doctors who couldn't diagnose endometriosis?)

9:16: Sorry I haven't updated in a while, but I've been bored to tears. Now, it's Elizabeth Warren, so... She's excited about going on before Bill Clinton, who "had the good sense to marry one of the coolest women on the planet."

9:20: "The system is rigged," Elizabeth Warren asserts.

9:36: I found Warren pretty boring. When the crowd chanted "Warren, Warren," it sounded like "boring, boring." What was boring was mainly what was boring about so many of the other speeches. So much talk about economic opportunity, with no noticeable plan for furthering it, other than statements about how other people out there — not you! — ought to pay their "fair share" of taxes, and this doctrine that you've got to build the economy from the middle out. She got fervent about the notion that corporation are not people. They don't have hearts, and they don't die, and so forth.

9:38: Bill Clinton says: "I want to nominate a man who's cool on the outside, but who burns for America on the inside."

9:58: Clinton goes on at great length on the topic of how Republicans won't cooperate and compromise and work with the Democrats. Then he says he watched the GOP convention last week:"Did y'all watch their convention? I did."

In Tampa, the Republican argument against the President's reelection was actually pretty simple, pretty snappy. It went something like this: We left him a total mess, he hasn't cleaned it up fast enough, so fire him and put us back in. But they did it well. They looked good. They sounded good.

And he says he was convinced they were "honorable people," who really believe what they said and will keep their commitments, so the key for Democrats is to make sure people understand what they believe.

10:09: Wow, he's going on a long time. It's reminiscent of his DNC keynote speech in 1988, when his going on too long turned into a huge joke. That was Clinton's original national reputation: The guy who talked too long.

10:27: It's almost 20 minutes since I said "Wow, he's going on a long time," and he's still going. This is insane. His inflections are getting wacky, like he's in love with how cute he is.

10:38: Finally, it's over. He spoke for 50 minutes. That was really self-indulgent.

11:04 (my time, after pausing): Obama comes out to interact with Clinton. Clinton gives a low bow. And now, they still have to do the roll call. I feel sorry for the kiddies in the crowd. It's late!

The Clinton miracle was the DOT Com bubble fed to a peak by the Y2K stimulus plan. That made everyone feel rich as their 401Ks trippled in paper value causing as measure of consumer spending began to escalate.

If any truth was allowed on media propaganda outlets, they would mention that Obama has done the exact opposite while the economy withered.

All we need is another cold war to end, and a once a century technological advance, and we can get a booming economy again. Then we can take Clinton's advice on how to leave it alone, but he has no experience with turning around a mess like we have now. That kind of challenge is in Romney's wheelhouse.

I'm listening to the amendment fight. Imagine if the Tea Party had tried to fight over the platform in the same way. How many stories would we get about inter-party fighting and the splintering of the Republican party?

The God/Jerusalem vote was telling. This is the "democratic" party? They take three voice votes, carefully observing Robert's Rules beforehand, and then obviously make the wrong call for all to see, failing to take a roll call?

I can understand that it's a contentious issue. But that's the whole point! Live up to agnosticism, Democrats! What a bunch of weenies and non-democrats!

Dare we call "hypocrisy"? This thing went down like a "mic check" protest in reverse: the buffoon on the platform didn't have the votes, and obviously wasn't smart enough even to follow the advice of the nice lady next to him. Force it down their throats! It's for the good of the party!

Lessee, they had to vote God and the capital of Israel back into the platform.

They've had at least 2 days' warning, but can't arrange for balloons in the hall when Zero speaks.

They have to pray for rain so they don't look like idiots for moving the venue they couldn't fill.

And apparently they're in panic mode over the fact the Romster raised $100M last month, but telling Fox News, "We don't think it will have much effect because it's all tied in the swing states" (but Barry was supposedly ahead).

God gets a mixed reception at the Democratic convention. Watch out you mothers. You could be next. Plus absolutely no apple pie. Many of them would boo the troops if they could not be seen. Not all. Many/

This guy. Republicans don't "banish" their past presidents. Past Republican presidents have the courtesy and common sense to retire with dignity and not carry on clinging to power and partying like celebrities. Democrats have no choice but to feature their past Presidents because (a) too many people suspect the present one sux, (b) the party faithful must be reminded of their objects of worship (gross) (c) the mad sex badger wouldn't LEAVE even if he was asked to and Carter won't SHUT UP (but note that they had him on video which could "malfunction" in case he started babbling about Palestine).

Tim, I have watched as much as I've been able of both conventions. I thought Michelle Obama's speech was quite good-- comparable in quality (though not in tone) to Ann Romney's. I subscribe to the Professor's opinion that the whole FLOTUS thing is stupid, but whatever; they both spoke well.

The other speeches on both sides have been mostly good partisan stuff. The DNC ones have been more bitter, I think, but I'm generally conservatively biased.

So yeah, I just noticed. I'm talking about the difference between a party tent and a clown show. This one is going bizarre. Clinton had better bring it back to earth tonight, or else Obama is toast. I think he's toast anyway, but whatever.

Like the Professor and a few others I've heard/read, I found Michelle Obama's fake stuttering really stupid. She's an HLS grad. She can talk. I've seen her do it (in 2008).

But we have lots of other bad, slow or stuttering talkers. John Kerry and Al Gore talk like snails. Barack Obama talks as though each sentence just occurred to him. This fakery is stupid. Bill Clinton talks as though he means what he says. I don't like Clinton, but he's a far better speaker than those mentioned above. So is George W. Bush.

I would like to call your attention to a slight programming change for tonight's game:

Crack MC will be subbing for Ritmo until later this evening when Ritmo hopes his spittle content will be up and ready to pitch again. He had a slight pull in his spit gland due to the length of last night's game, and certainly doesn't want to injure himself had have to be pulled from rotation.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - A Democratic state legislator from east Arkansas, his father and two campaign workers pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to commit election fraud after federal prosecutors said they bribed absentee voters and destroyed ballots in a special election last year.

Isn't it funny that the party that denies there is voter fraud is always out committing voter fraud?

I really hate that the line about banishing ex-presidents hit the mark. I mean, the party did. I didn't. I'm proud of my votes (and work) for GWB. I still hope history treats him better.

I do hope that quote comes back to bite them in the ass, though. These are the people who helped whip up the irrational hate for GWB while he was in office. I wouldn't mind if they felt it a little themselves.

Jews and those who bitterly cling religion thrown under the bus today.What's baffling is why they would think it would be a good idea first to remove such word from a platform, but then even worse to then try to put them back in.What a nightmare.I love it.

"Republican women count too, but they vote against their own best interests."

Republican women, like Republican men, decide for themselves what is, and is not, in their own best interests. Which is why they vote Republican. They don't get led around by grievance mongers or fooled by easily falsifiable statistics and sloganeering.

You are, however, correct that the Lily Ledbetter law benefits an important Democrat party interest group. Trial Lawyers.

I too have a Clinton prediction. He will ,in a winning way, say that BO is the second black president. It will bring the house down and will be echoed in the one humorous moment in the president's acceptance speech.

Garage. I am with you on this one. The Dems should have kept God out of the platform and they should have ignored the topic of the capitol of Israel. They should have stuck to their core beliefs. But in truth that is the way the vote went. Should have asked for IDs.

The Clinton miracle was the DOT Com bubble fed to a peak by the Y2K stimulus plan. That made everyone feel rich as their 401Ks trippled in paper value causing as measure of consumer spending began to escalate.

Also, outright ignoring of all accounting regulations helped. A lot.

Joe Trippi, Democratic campaign consultant, told Greta Van Susteren last night that party platforms were for the activists of the parties. Presidents always end up doing what they think is best.

Makes the press' and Democrats' caterwauling about the Republican platform LAST WEEK all the more baffling.

And there were always speculation that Mabel Dodge Luhan had actually bought her husband at the Pueblo, though the relationship there certainly did not fit the conventional idea of slave and mistress - at least not in that sense of the word mistress!

Rep Clarke thought that the Dutch were still in charge in New York in 1898 and still had slaves then...

Allie,

I hope your daughter and brand new son-in-law are all right on their honeymoon what with the earthquake and possible tsunami...

also, Republican women don't vote against their best interests. They are treated like adults who know what their real best interests are, not free birth control and the government for a husband like poor Julia.

And if Obama pulled us out of a Great Recession, wouldn't we have to far that much further to a Great Depression? We couldn't have been close to a Great Depression as Mr. Hoyer says. It's just semantics but it bugs me.

And of course Mr. Hoyer is better off than 4 years ago, he works for the government!

Once ObamaCare kicks in, every woman should have insurance coverage that would allow her to choose a primary care physician and a ob/gyn, right? Why would she choose a low cost clinic where she might never see the same doctor twice? Should any woman prefer to use a clinic instead of a private practice doctor, she'll have her own insurance to pay for her visit. Planned Parenthood shouldn't need any more government aid than that.

Kind of a dumb question, given that neither party is proposing we should.

If you want to ask why we should get rid of public funding for it, well, surely you don't need it explained to you why it is inappropriate to use tax money to fund activity most Americans consider immoral?

You're right out of the USSR, garbage. Opposition to your sickening agenda must either be killed (the preferable option) or declared "lunatic" and be administered shock treatment till they "get it right." What truly execrable filth you are.

Why get rid of Planned Parenthood? Even if it isn't the only option, it IS an option.

Listen you fucking wig monkey. No one wants to get rid of Planned Parenthood, the death centers for the innocent. What is being asked is to not federally fund them with tax payer dollars. Do you see the distinction you mentally clumsy cow?

Penny wrote: Just for the sake of discussion, let's say Althouse decides she will pay each of her regular commenters for being in the position of "Commenter at Althouse". She gives us each $10.00 per day.

Suppose instead that commenters paid for the privilege or Althouse went private with a subscription? That would quickly sort the wit from the chafe commenter-wise.